Kakadu woollybutt facts for kids

The Kakadu woollybutt, officially known as Eucalyptus gigantangion, is a special type of tree. It is found only in the Northern Territory of Australia. This tree has soft, rough bark on most of its trunk. Higher up, its bark is smooth and white. It also has long, narrow leaves, orange flowers, and ribbed, urn-shaped fruits.

About the Kakadu Woollybutt Tree

The Kakadu woollybutt is a tall tree, usually growing up to 30 metres (98 ft) high. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if it gets damaged, for example, by fire.

Bark and Leaves

The bark on most of the trunk is rough and soft. It can be orange-brown, red-brown, dark grey, or even black. The upper part of the trunk and its branches have smooth, white bark.

Young plants and new shoots (called coppice regrowth) have wider leaves. These leaves are shaped like a spear or an egg. They are about 55–110 mm (2.2–4.3 in) long and 25–50 mm (0.98–1.97 in) wide.

Adult leaves grow in an alternating pattern along the stem. They are dull green to blue-green, but a bit lighter on one side. These leaves are narrow and spear-shaped. They measure about 60–160 mm (2.4–6.3 in) long and 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) wide. The leaf base narrows down to a stalk called a petiole, which is 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long.

Flowers and Fruit

The flower buds of the Kakadu woollybutt grow in groups of seven. Each group is on a stalk called a peduncle, which is 18–25 mm (0.71–0.98 in) long. The individual buds are almost directly attached to this stalk.

When the buds are ready, they are spindle-shaped, like a small spinning top. They are about 22–28 mm (0.87–1.10 in) long and 10–14 mm (0.39–0.55 in) wide. They have ribs on their sides and four small teeth at the tip. The top part of the bud, which covers the flower, is shaped like a cone.

This tree flowers from July to August. Its flowers are a bright orange color. After flowering, the tree produces a woody, urn-shaped fruit. This fruit is a capsule, about 35–58 mm (1.4–2.3 in) long and 22–50 mm (0.87–1.97 in) wide. It also has ribs on its sides, and the part that opens (the valve) stays below the rim.

Naming the Kakadu Woollybutt

Eucalyptus gigantangion was first officially described in 1991. Two botanists, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill, wrote about it in a science journal called Telopea.

The scientific name, gigantangion, comes from two Ancient Greek words. "Gigas" or "gigantos" means "giant". "Angion" means "vessel" or "receptacle". This name was chosen because the tree has very large fruits.

Where the Kakadu Woollybutt Lives

The Kakadu woollybutt grows in savanna forests. These are open woodlands with grasses like Triodia and shrubs growing underneath the trees.

You can find this tree near the top edges of sandstone cliffs. These cliffs are part of the Arnhem Land escarpment. Most of these trees grow only within Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory.